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I was about to say that Sergeant Pepper was the first big coherent rock concept album, but it was released a year later.

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According to Beatles producer George Martin, "Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper never would have happened....Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds."

Yup. "Paul McCartney has frequently spoken of his affinity with the album, citing "God Only Knows" as his favorite song of all-time, and crediting his melodic bass-playing style to the album. He acknowledged that Pet Sounds was the primary impetus for the Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The interplay between the Beatles and the Beach Boys thus inextricably links the two albums together."

Paul McCartney also appears on the Smiley Smile song Vege-Tables chewing celery.

Saw a quote yesterday where Brian Wilson said Rubber Soul was the influence for Pet Sounds.

The interplay between the Beach Boys and Beatles was interesting, if memory serves. The bands came out at about the same time, and I think were roughly the same age. But since the BB's sound harkened back to the 50's, and the Beatles moved early to a 70's sound, the BB's got labeled as "old people" music and so were less successful.

Also, I believe the main creative guy (Brian Wilson) in the BB's had a breakdown trying to keep up with the Beatles, which is understandable.

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